Although forecasts predict only a few CM of snowfall, it's falling as this is written. If new snowfall amounts approach 10 cm, take a cautious approach to steep terrain in the Front Ranges (Ice climbers, this could mean you).
Weather Forecast
The arctic front marches South into the USA on Tuesday evening, causing light upslope snowfall. Temperatures fall to a steady -17 at Treeline, with flurries and Moderate NE winds, through Thursday. Only a couple of CM are expected. On Friday, skies clear and temperatures rise, as increasing SW winds boot the upslope back to where it belongs....
Snowpack Summary
Extreme SW winds on Sunday caused widespread scouring, with thin pockets of stubborn Wind Slab found on sheltered Treeline slopes on Tuesday. Solar aspects below 2000m are breakable crust, while sheltered aspects still hold some soft snow. The upper snowpack is supportive, over a faceted but strengthening lower snowpack.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches have been reported or observed. At Treeline on Tuesday, localised cracking from ski tips was observed in a Pencil hard, 5-10cm surface Wind Slab.
Confidence
Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Wednesday
Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.
Deep Persistent Slabs
Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.